Tilia cordata plant named ‘Shibamichi Gold’

ABSTRACT

A new plant variety of  Tilia cordata  Mill. named ‘Shibamichi Gold’ having bright golden yellow new foliage that matures to chartreuse in the summer.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Tilia cordataMill. plant.

Varietal denomination: The new variety has the varietal denomination‘Shibamichi Gold’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Tiliacordata Mill., which was developed in a controlled program in KawasguchiCity, Japan by the originator Mr. Akira Shibamichi.

The genus Tilia comprises about 45 species of deciduous trees native toEastern and Central North America; Europe; and Western Central andEastern Asia. It is included in the family Tiliaceae which comprisesabout 48 genera and 725 species.

Tilia cordata is widespread and common throughout much of England,Wales, Northest Spain, Sweden to Western Russia and Southern Caucasia.It generally grows to 30 meters tall. Leaf color is deep green dependingon light intensity and cultural conditions. Leaves are generallysuborbicular, abruptly acuminate, finely and scabrous serrate on themargins. Leaves are generally glossy, dark green above, glaucescent withtufts in vein axils beneath. Flower color is yellowish white, fragrantin pendulous to erect cymes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety was discovered as a whole plant mutation in a controlledplanting of Tilia cordata (unnamed, unpatented) and differs from it byhaving bright gold yellow new foliage that matures to chartreuse in thesummer. Asexual reproduction of the new variety by grafting, hasconfirmed that the distinctive characteristics of the new variety arestable and transmitted to succeeding generations, and the new varietyreproduces true to type.

COMPARISON WITH THE UNNAMED, UNPATENTED TILIA CORDATA PLANT

‘Shibamichi Gold’ is distinguished from it and all other varieties ofTilia cordata of which I am aware by its bright golden yellow newfoliage which matures to chartreuse. In comparison, foliage of the theunnamed, unpatented Tilia cordata plant emerges green and remains greenthrough maturity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

The accompanying illustrations show a specimen of the new cultivar inphotographic illustrations as true to color as is reasonably possible tomake in illustrations of this character.

FIG. 1 shows the habit and the distinctive bright golden yellow newfoliage and the darker chartreuse colored mature foliage of the newvariety.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the new foliage of ‘Shibamichi Gold’showing its distinctive bright golden yellow color.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Shibamichi Gold’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental, cultural and light conditions. The following observationsand descriptions are of plants of an 8-year-old specimen grown in YorkHaven, Pa., in full sun, on a south-facing hillside, in decomposedsandstone loam soil. In this description, color references are to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (2001) and terminology used inthe color descriptions herein refers to plate numbers in this colorchart. Phenotypic expression may vary with light intensity, cultural andenvironmental conditions.

-   Plant:    -   -   Size.—About 5 meters tall, 3.75 meters wide.        -   Age.—About 8-years-old, in controlled trial conditions.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 3 (−40° F. to −30° F.).        -   Vigor.—Rapid grower; approximately 0.5 meter per year.        -   Habit.—Upright spreading outward.        -   Pests/diseases.—None noted.        -   Bark.—Near Brown Group N200B.        -   Branching.—12 main branches with 10 to 15 subsidiary            branches.        -   Branch length.—About 1.5 meters.        -   Branch diameter.—Up to about 8 cm at base; approximately 1            mm at apex.        -   Color.—New Shoots Upper Surface near Greyed-Orange Group            170A. Under Surface near Yellow Group 151B. Color of Apices:            Near Greyed-Orange Group 165B.        -   Mature shoots.—Near Greyed-Orange Group 177C.        -   Old wood.—Abaxial: Near Greyed-Orange Group 165A. Adaxial:            Near Greyed-Orange Group 166A.        -   Trunk.—Observed trunk diameter is approximately 10 cm at 60            cm above ground level. This is the point where the trunk is            separated into multiple trunks. The ultimate dimensions are            not known.-   Leaf:    -   -   Shape.—Suborbicular to rounded cordate, apex is abruptly            acuminate.        -   Size.—Length: Between 6.0 and 8.0 cm. Width: Between 6.5 and            8.0 cm.        -   Leaf blade.—Approximately 6 to 10 cm long, mostly around 7            cm, and 6 to 10 cm across, mostly around 7 cm.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate, mostly not deeply cordate, to nearly            truncate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Texture/substance.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—The following color readings are of mature specimens            grown in York Haven, Pa. Young Foliage Upper Surface near            Yellow-Green Group 151A to 151B; Under surface near            Yellow-Green Group 145A. Mature Foliage Upper Surface near            Green Group 143A; Under surface near Green Group 143C to            143D.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Upper surface, pinnate.        -   Petioles.—Size: Approximately 3 to 7 cm in length, mostly            about 5 cm; width approximately 1.5 cm. Coloration: Near            Yellow-Green Group 145B. Texture: Pubescent.        -   Internode length.—Between 2.5 and 3.7 cm.-   Inflorescence: Due to the immaturity of the plant, no flowers have    been produced. Flower production would not be expected until at    least the 10^(th) year of growth.

1. A new and distinct variety of Tilia cordata plant as shown and described. 